Meet CLARE. Clare is one of those names that’s coming around again. It’s not just grandma’s name anymore. There’s Clare Danes, movie star and actress on the popular TV program “Homeland”. And according to www.babycenter.com , Claire was #31 on the 2012 baby name popularity list.

But the CLARE I am introducing you to is Contact Lens Acute Red Eye. It’s about time I make the introduction because too often, and with unfortunate consequences, CLARE is confused with “pink-eye”.

A pink or red eye could be related to:

Bacterial or Viral Eye Infection

Allergic Eye Reaction

Ocular Inflammation caused by Iritis or Uveitis

Foreign Body in the Eye

Inflammation from a damaged or dirty Contact Lens

Corneal Keratitis or Abrasion,

Corneal Infiltrates or Ulcers

Reaction to preservatives in Contact Lens Solutions

CLARE

Treatment for CLARE is different than treatment for other types of pink or red eye. If you are a contact lens wearer, and you have a red or pink eye, you should see your eye doctor. A phone call to your primary care doctor for “some drops” could result in a severe eye problem if what you actually have is CLARE, corneal Infiltrates, corneal ulcers, ocular foreign bodies, abrasions or iIritis/uveitis.

If CLARE has found you, we can help. At GH Eye we schedule you for a same day appointment for a red eye problem whenever possible. We hope you don’t meet CLARE, but if you do, we are here for you.

By the way, it’s fitting that the name “Clare” is derived from the Latin word for “clear”!

Dr. Ally Stoeger knows CLARE very well! She provides annual eye examinations, medical eye care, contact lens examinations and Lasik surgery co-management in the Gainesville-Haymarket area of Virginia. Her eye care practice at GH Eye has a superb collection of basic and high tech lenses and the latest in fashion frames for adults and children.

Almost every pregnant woman has read somewhere that pregnancy hormones can affect her glasses or contact lens prescription. Because of this a pregnant woman may delay necessary eye care.

I have found pregnancy usually does not affect glasses or contact lens prescriptions. In fact, pregnant women who delay their eye exam until after delivery, or after they finish nursing, may be putting themselves at risk for the following reasons:

1. Outdated eyeglass prescriptions can reduce driving safety

2. They may end up trying to squeeze an extra few weeks out of their last box of contact lenses. Wearing contact lenses longer than approved can cause eye infections, changes in the delicate tissue under the eyelids that will make future lens wear less comfortable, and can even cause corneal damage.

3. Pregnant women should have eye exams to check the optic nerve and retina. At GH Eye we generally do not perform dilated eye examinations for pregnant patients. Instead, we use Optomap technology to get a wide angle panoramic view of the retina. This technology does not use any x-rays. And, because their eyes are usually not dilated, pregnant patients feel safe driving home after their eye exam at GH Eye.

Comfortable eyeglasses with a current prescription are important because pregnant women are not permitted to wear contact lenses during delivery. Also, I recommend wearing glasses and not extended wear contact lenses during night feedings.

The good news is that unlike clothes or shoes — the eyeglass frames that a pregnant woman purchases will still fit after delivery. So have fun with eyeglass fashion — buying eyeglass frames is like buying purses — won’t matter if you have added a size or two!

Dr. Ally Stoeger provides annual eye examinations, medical eye care, contact lens examinations and Lasik surgery co-management in the Gainesville-Haymarket area of Virginia. Her practice at GH Eye has a superb collection of basic and hi-tech lenses and the latest in fashion frames.